A Spitfire, built in 1943, is making a round-the-world trip... 1

[JohnRBaker]

Restored Silver Spitfire takes off on round-the-world trip

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-49248444

John R. Baker, P.E. (ret)
EX-Product 'Evangelist'
Irvine, CA
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[LittleInch]

I saw the end of that story on the news but didn't realise what they were doing. I assumed it was a replica.

What an aircraft. I hope they make it.

Remember - More details = better answers
Also: If you get a response it's polite to respond to it.

 

[GregLocock]

That's a bit sad, to me. These a/c have a finite life, when they're gone, they're gone.

Cheers

Greg Locock


New here? Try reading these, they might help FAQ731-376

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[SomptingGuy]

G-IRTY
MJ271

Steve

 

[SnTMan]

GregLocock, yes it is a conundrum. Whether to fly or let sit the last flying Mustang, Spitfire, B-17, B-24, B-29, etc. Love to see them flying but it would be beyond tragic to lose them in an accident...

For example

The problem with sloppy work is that the supply FAR EXCEEDS the demand

 

[cranky108]

I would wonder about engine life. I don't believe the older engines were designed/built to last as long as those made today.

Then again it is possible to stage parts at different stops to replace part along the way.

I'm not saying the quality is in question, but, as far as cars are concerned, the life was once considered to be 100,000 miles, and now it is over 200,000 miles.

Then again, this looks like it is not an in-line engine.

 

[SnTMan]

The Merlin

The problem with sloppy work is that the supply FAR EXCEEDS the demand

 

[JohnRBaker]

Speaking of old aircraft still in flying condition, I can make a couple of recommendations.

First, if you're here in the states, the Collings Foundation, which bills itself as a sort of 'Flying Museum', holds a 'Wings of Freedom Tour' around the country every year. They're currently flying a B-17 Flying Fortress, a B-24 Liberator (one of the last still flying), a B-25 Mitchell, a P-51 Mustang and a P-40 Warhawk. When they're at you local airport (see link below) you can see them on display for $15/person, but you can also make a tax-exempt 'donation' and take a ride in one of the above mentioned aircraft. Back in April 2004, when they were only flying the B-17 and B-24, I got to take an approximately 20 minute flight in the B-17 Flying Fortress. It was an amazing experience and well worth the 'donation' ($400) I made to get the ride. Here's a shot I took out of one of the windows during the flight:

April 2004 (Minolta DiMAGE 7Hi)

I've been considering catching a ride in the B-24 next time they're in town (we were on vacation this year).

Here's the link to their schedule for the remainder of the year:

https://www.collingsfoundation.org/events/category/wings-of-freedom-tour/

Now if you're in the UK, while they don't offer rides (at least they didn't when I was there), I can highly recommend visiting the Imperial War Museum at Duxford, near Cambridge. I visited there back in the 90's when I was working in our office in Cambridge for a couple of weeks and stopped by on a Sunday afternoon (unfortunately, I didn't have a camera with me on that trip). As I walked around looking at the static displays of their aircraft, mostly from WWII, I noticed that many of the planes had 'drip pans' under the engines. Now there's only ONE reason why they would do that and that's because these planes were in flying condition and could be flown if they wanted to. On weekends, weather permitting, they would bring out a couple planes and do some demo flights. The weekend I was there they flew a WWII observation plane, the British equivalent to Piper Cub. It was a very short-take-off and landing type plant with wings much larger and thicker than a Piper Cub. It was fun watching it lift off almost immediately and it being able to fly very slow over the airfield in front of the crowd. The other aircraft was a Spitfire. The pilot was a younhg guy, probably in his mid to early 20's, dressed like he had just stepped off a movie set. Anyway, watching that Spitfire take-off and do some rolls and a few very high speed, low-level runs over the field was a thrill. All I could think of was what it must have been like when there were dozens of those planes in the air at once, dog-fighting with the Luftwaffe.

Here is the link to Imperial War Museum Duxford website:

https://www.iwm.org.uk/visits/iwm-duxford

John R. Baker, P.E. (ret)
EX-Product 'Evangelist'
Irvine, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

The secret of life is not finding someone to live with
It's finding someone you can't live without

 

[swall]

I took the $400 B-17 ride a few years ago. Well worth the money. Waiting on a B-29 ride.

 

[drawoh]

That's a bit sad, to me. These a/c have a finite life, when they're gone, they're gone.

I think there are more Spitfires flying now than there were when they filmed The Battle of Britain in the late sixties. I understand there is a very fine line between a replica, and a rebuilt WWII aircraft.

If you are ever in the Toronto, Ontario area, you can check out Hamilton Airport, Canadian Warplane Heritage, and their flying Lancaster.

--
JHG

 

[JohnRBaker]

I was one of the speakers at an engineering conference held at the Toronto Aerospace Museum back in 2005. They were in the middle of restoring a Lancaster Mark X and had pieces and parts all over the place:

June 2005 (Canon IXUS V)

June 2005 (Canon IXUS V)

June 2005 (Canon IXUS V)

June 2005 (Canon IXUS V)

They were also constructing a replica of an Avco Arrow:

June 2005 (Canon IXUS V)

I understand that these planes have since been moved to another airport outside of Toronto and are now part of something called the 'Canadian Air and Space Conservancy'. I haven't been able to find out whether they ever got that Lancaster up to flying condition. I checked the web and I couldn't find anything definitive. Perhaps someone from up around there might know.

John R. Baker, P.E. (ret)
EX-Product 'Evangelist'
Irvine, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

The secret of life is not finding someone to live with
It's finding someone you can't live without

 

[LionelHutz]

John, read the post before yours again....

$3600 for a 60 minute flight.

 

[LionelHutz]

I believe the Arrow replica is sitting outside at Pearson airport partially disassembled.

 

[JohnRBaker]

John, read the post before yours again....

I did read the post, but I think we're talking about two different Lancasters. If you go back to what drawoh posted and follow the links on the Canadian Warplane Heritage website you'll see where they describe their Lancaster as having been restored to flying condition in 1988. The Lancaster I saw in Toronto back in 2005 was still in pieces.

Here's a link to the item that describes the history of the Lancaster mentioned by drawoh:

https://www.warplane.com/aircraft/collection/details.aspx?aircraftId=4

John R. Baker, P.E. (ret)
EX-Product 'Evangelist'
Irvine, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

The secret of life is not finding someone to live with
It's finding someone you can't live without

 

[TheTick]

I grew up near Oshkosh, where the sky would come alive with flocks of Mustangs and Corsairs every August. Maybe one or two replica spitfires or Messerschmitts. They're getting harder to find now.

Now EAA is infested with AT-6s. Warbirds they are not. Ain't nothing like the real thing, baby.

 

[LionelHutz]

I had thought the planes from Downsview had ended up in Hamilton after the museum was evicted from their hanger and they couldn't find anyone to sponsor a new home. But, it appears they renamed to Canadian Air and Space Museum and are attempting to open at Edenvale Airport. My guess is that the planes are mostly still in storage at GTAA warehouses since they still aren't open or have visitor viewing of the planes. It also appears their Lancaster is still in pieces. The Arrow replica did make it to Edenvale recently and was re-assembled. There are pictures of it being re-assembled and there is only one other plane easily visible in the background of some pictures but it's possible there are a couple of other smaller planes there. Certainly not the whole collection.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Air_and_Space_Museum

 

[Sparweb]

Lionel,
Thank you for the update. That replica spent several years outdoors wrapped in plastic sheeting near a hangar where I was working up until 2018. It always seemed a shame for it to be left there rather than where people can enjoy seeing it.

No one believes the theory except the one who developed it. Everyone believes the experiment except the one who ran it.
STF

 

[JohnRBaker]

An update on my Aug 19 19:21 post; it seems that the Collings Foundation B-17 bomber, that my post talked about, has crashed near Hartford, Connecticut, killing most of the people on board. From the item below, it's reported that there were 13 people on board, two pilots, an attendant and 10 passengers. Now when I took my flight in this same exact B-17, back in 2004, they only allowed about six people at a time on a flight, and it wasn't like they weren't busy as I had to wait in line to get my chance to board the plane.

Anyway, here's a news item covering the crash:

https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/...d-war-ii-era-b-17-bomber-crashes-in-fireball/

John R. Baker, P.E. (ret)
EX-Product 'Evangelist'
Irvine, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

The secret of life is not finding someone to live with
It's finding someone you can't live without

 

[berkshire]

John R. Baker.
Here is an update on that story.

https://www.avweb.com/flight-safety/accidents-ntsb/wwii-b-17-crashes-at-bradley/

B.E.

You are judged not by what you know, but by what you can do.